One of the big differences between facial creams and facial oils is that the former sits mostly on the surface to hold moisture in and the latter is absorbed into deeper layers of the skin to nurture and regenerate — but not if pores are blocked with pollution and dead skin!

I am a big believer in very gentle exfoliation, not skin-scratching scrubs — the word tells all.

This very fine powder of oats and milk (lactic acid) does a fantastic job of sloughing dead skin to prepare the dermis to absorb the botanical oil in face oil. I put some in a small cardboard tube (lip balm size) for travel size.

Because of the high levels of vitamin E, EFAs and anti-inflammatory soothing effect, I am using it right now to make a special healing salve with Helichrysum Serotinum essential oil for my Mom who just had a spot removed from her face and wants to have an invisible scar.

Love this oil! Too precious to carry this gorgeous bottle around. I use it at home, a few drops at a time, as an eye serum that works in perfect harmony over my HGO Neroli Face Oil. There are so many ways to use argan oil; everyone should have it as a staple.

The main thing about using face oils is not to slather them on, but to use 5-8 drops, tops, and massage into damp, clean skin in upward strokes.

To seal in moisture, instead of overdosing on face oil, I apply a thin coating of my HGO Face Balm, warmed and dissolved in my hands first — patting and lightly stroking on dry patches with a very thin coating of the balm. Makeup goes right over it.

Again, because Rose-Marie Swift — a brilliant makeup artist who understands skin has to GLOW to look young — sources only the best ingredients.

My skin never gets clogged, dry, erupted or hidden by these brilliant balms, powder and coconut oil and the concealer works to block the sun (I am allergic to sunscreen).

I always include an almost finished jar of “Un” Cover-up #22 in my small Alison Oliver-illustrated, gold zip-up Baggu leather pouch that includes: HGO Sinus and Tension Remedies, my lip/hand balm and a nail clipper (gotta keep my nails as short as possible since I do healing touch).

These are my travel but also my basic combo for fall because they support the immune system, detox with every use, boost energy and help the mind/body adjust to shifts in temperature and climate.

This time of year is the hardest on my health — more prone to pick up a cold, strain a muscle or get overwhelmed, so I rely heavily on these remedies to get me through, and so far they have succeeded in preventing me from getting sick/jet-lagged/slowed-down by stress, achey or weary.

I never leave home without it. I keep it — bottle only — in the Baggu bag which sits at my hip for easy-access in my cross-body wallet/mini-everything bag. This way I can access instantly while standing on a subway platform, on a plane, when somebody sneezes in my face (!) or around lots of kids — anywhere where I need some anti-viral/bacterial armor.

For my morning does of inspiration, I put a drop inside each nostril. And if I am getting a sore throat or feeling on the verge of ill, I put a couple drops on my neck over my lymph nodes, and I am good to go.

Helps me meet the challenges and stresses of fall head-on since it is an adrenal stimulant, immune booster, deepens breath, clears the chest and helps me get unstuck from the kind of obsessive thinking many of us are prone to.

I roll on neck, shoulders and low back after the shower. If my legs are tired or sore, I roll on in stripes and smooth in like a lotion, targeting sore areas, or take a bath in it.

I keep a bottle on my dresser or in my bathroom and always pack in my leak-proof cosmetic bag when traveling.